The sophomore slump. While it seems like a cliche, it can be pretty real in the world of pro sports. The transition from junior to pro is not always easy. The transition from minors to top level is also not always easy.
Ontario Reign defenseman Nick Ebert knows a bit about sophomore slumps.
If you know a little about the background of Nick Ebert, you will know what I am talking about. For those that do not, the New Jersey native was taken with the last pick of the 2011 NHL entry draft. This was, of course, after he was rated by many as
a first round selection, and
one of the top 25 North American skaters after a dynamite rookie season with the Windsor Spitfires. His second year (Draft year), however, left more people in doubt than it did in certainty. The decline was steep, the hype was tempered, and he was taken much later than originally thought.
Mr. Irrelevant to be exact.
The now 21-year old Dman is currently playing in his second season with the LA Kings minor league affiliate, the Ontario Reign, long removed from his draft days. Last year was Ebert's rookie season in pro hockey after three and a half seasons with the Windsor Spitfires and half a season with the Guelph Storm of the OHL. In his AHL rookie season, Ebert dressed 45 games for the then Manchester Monarchs to some mixed offensive numbers and performances.
Despite some sporadic playing time to start the year, his second half of 2014-15 provided promise as he settled in.
"It’s a big jump (From Juniors) for sure, I mean it was hard last year. I kind of came into my zone in the latter half of the year. But it was definitely tough to transition. I mean it wasn’t crazy crazy, but you can definitely tell a major difference with how smart the guys are and how much stronger and bigger they are."
Ebert went on to highlight the more subtle and strategic differences from the OHL to the AHL,
"I think out here it’s all about the positioning and a lot of the small things that really go a far way. In Juniors you don’t always need to do those small things but they really go a long way when you look at the whole aspect of it."
Those small things, be it making the easy outlet or keeping your stick on the ice to block a passing lane, can be things that plague youngsters coming into the league. Nick is not alone in feeling the pain that comes with learning the consistency that has to come along with being a pro. There is also the game to game, mental preparation, that might be considered a "little thing" that junior players do not think about. A full pro season is a grind, both physically and mentally.
Despite the promising second half to last season, 2015-16 has brought forth new and different challenges for the young blueliner due to to that pro level grind. He has had to really fight for his playing time amongst the Reign regulars of Schultz, LoVerde, Gravel, Forbort, and
surprise of the year Kurtis MacDermid . There have also been players similar to him like Kevin Raine and Zac Leslie who are pushing for playing time. On top of the deep depth chart, Ebert missed 16-games this year with an upper body injury, right when it looked like he was starting to put it together. A physical toll that is inevitably paid by every player at some point at the pro level.
"Yea, I mean, to tell you the truth before the injury I was really coming into my game there. I was really feeling good. I missed like two months there, it was definitely a setback. That hurt. It has taken me a couple of games to get back into it. But I’m feeling 100% healthy and capable of playing more minutes…It’s nice to get some powerplay time too, haven’t seen much of that since I’ve played pro, so that gives me confidence to do more things."
It is a set back that he was altogether frustrated with, but seemed to take in stride.
"It just sucked to be brutally honest with you. I woke up every day being frustrated. Being held back and not being able to play. It was a long rehab and recovery. But it could have been worse obviously, so you have to look at it in a good light. I'm back now and I'm feeling good as of late so hopefully I can build on that."
Ebert's game thrives on mobility, a balance of risk-reward plays, and a transition game that is very pleasing to the eye when he gets motoring up ice. His skating may be some of the best on the Reign back end, and when he starts to confidently carry the puck up ice it can be something to see. As he mentioned, before the injury, it really seemed as though he was starting to settle in and play good hockey.
One thing that may be helping him settle in in this pivotal sophomore season is his partnership with NHL veteran Jeff Schultz.
"He’s definitely a special guy and we are lucky to have him.” said Ebert.
“It’s very easy to play with Jeff. Ya know he slows the game down and he’s very calm back there. He’s so composed, and you never see any panic with him, which you sometimes see with younger defensemen.
Even off the ice, the soft spoken, 30-year old Jeff Schultz has had an impact with his younger partner.
"There's good leadership presence too in the room for the younger guys...obviously a guy who has hundreds of NHL games, I think it’s seven years he had in the NHL? I mean he knows. He knows if someone is maybe a little flustered, maybe just a couple of words there, say ’Hey calm down kid and relax.' When he talks you’re going to listen based simply off of that experience he has."
With all the good things Ebert has done and shown this season, there is still development to be done and things to get better at. While he can look like a very competent defenseman at times, there are nights when he could completely fly under the radar and be almost unnoticeable. While for some that is good, for a player with his skills and ability this is not what you want. Is there ever a night when you do not notice Drew Doughty? Or Erik Karlsson? Absolutely not. When asking Coach Stothers about Ebert, he definitely chimed in on the consistency aspect of the game.
"Eebs has some really good games for us, but then…he kind of falls off. Consistency is kind of the biggest thing with [him]."
As with other players, Stothers is very even-handed with his praise and criticism. He loves his players, but he also knows his role is steering them into being better players for the present and the future.
"There is no question in my mind that [Ebert] has the ability to play, it is part of the maturing process, ya know it is part of growing up, learning to be a pro, what it takes to be a pro each and every day. Sometimes it takes a guy a little bit longer. I think he has made some great strides, I think he has improved immensely, but if there is anything that is hurting him, or stalling his development, or playing on a regular basis, it’s his lack of consistency. He knows it, we’ve talked about, he’s working on it."
Then with his classic, hockey philosophy ways, the Reign bench boss put a nice period on it.
"Some guys have to work on the physical side of their game, some guys have to work on the mental side of their game. Eebs has to keep working on the mental side of his game."
It was no surprise that Ebert also echoed the sentiments of the coaching staff when asked about what he is trying to achieve in his own personal development this season.
"I think it is strictly the consistency of late that they have been really harping on me. They want me to bring it every game.
I definitely agree with them, sometimes I don’t have a great game and I think every game I need to play like I am capable of. Obviously, you are going to have an off game sometimes, but overall the consistency has been the main thing we have been communicating about, so that’s what I am trying to do. Bring it every night."
For this reason, among many others, the Schultz-Ebert pairing has made a lot of sense. The calm, collected, low-panic game of Jeff Schultz coupled with a firecracking puck-mover who may get just a little too aggressive and ramped up at times. Perhaps Coach Stothers is hoping that some of the habits of Schultz rub off on Ebert.
"Schultzy is a pretty reliable guy, steady eddie, nothing really phases him, unflappable…so ya know it’s a good pairing, he’s a good mentor for a guy like Eebs."
It is not just on the ice either, Stothers might be looking for his off-ice approach to rub off as well.
"When you watch Schultzy day in and day out, about how he goes about his preparation both for practice and for games, how he conducts himself on and off the ice, it’s a great, great, mentor for Eebs. It’s a great mentor for ALL our young defensemen."
The Reign are on their way to the Calder Cup playoffs for 2015-16, and they will need their young puck-mover to be at the top of his game. If he is not, there are always reserve players looming and hungry for playing time. That is the reality of a developing and hopeful NHL defenseman. Job security is based strictly on results, and there are always other players waiting in the wings. The Reign need Ebert in the playoffs, but also next season when the inevitable turnover strikes the squad. Consistency will be key for the skilled puck-mover if he plans on traversing the learning curve and coming out the other side as an NHL caliber defenseman. As Stothers noted and as many scouts have probably seen by now, the skills are definitely there. Putting it all together can simply take time.
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